WAIKATO MINERS NOT GOING SLOW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 231, 1 October 1941, Page 6

WAIKATO MINERS NOT GOING SLOW

VISITS BY MINISTERS CONFERENCE TO BE ( ALI.ED Ol OWNERS AND WORKERS Wellington. Sept. 30. Au .Tceount of a v'.s.t paid to the Waikato mining district at the weekend hy the Minister of Finance. Hon. i W. Nash, and the .Minister of Mines. | Hon. P. Webb, was given on his return to Wellington yesterday by Mr. Webb. He said that three meetings of miners were addressed, and the main point stressed v.as the importance of every|one doing ills best toward maintaining | maximum production. “It is true that the miners had contemplated adopting a go-slow policy to bring the question of economic stabilisation to a head." .Mr. Webb said. "After hearing Mi. Nash's speeches, however, they decided by an i overwhelming majority not to partici-l pate in anything that would hampet j (he production of coal. Advice to this! effect has been received Horn the miners' secretary.” A plan to call in tile near future a conference of coaiowner s and miners' representatives to survey the coalmining situation to enable early preparations for next winter to be made, was announced oy Mr, Webb. He said he proposed also to confer with the coalmining companies about providing accommodation for the miners. .Mr, W ebb said that although coal supplies were short during the winter now ending, the situation n ver became realty enibatrassing. All industries. including the electric-power boards, were kept supplied with coal, and although householders’ supplies were limited in some places, full requirements were supplied as a rule. The Minister said thal a question closely associated with coal supplies was the housing of the men. He was reliably informed while ir. Huntly at the week-end that if the number of men required applied for positions the difficulty would be to find suitable accommodation for them. This was an urgent problem that must be considered at the earliest moment.